Foundation

After the suppression of the Jesuits on 21 July 1773, the Bishop of Quebec Jean-Olivier Briand allowed the Jesuits to remain Quebec. However, the government refused to allow the Jesuits to have any new members and would not allow any new French priests to come to Canada. This meant that the number of Jesuits reduced as their members died. The last Canadian Jesuit, Fr. Jean-Joseph Casot, died at Quebec in 1800.^[1]

Since the Jesuits were no longer present in Quebec, the Jesuit College, Quebec was run by the Notre-Dame-de-Québec Congregation. On 9 November 1817, they received approval from Archbishop Joseph-Octave Plessis to build a new chapel.^[2][3]

Construction

The chapel was designed by François Baillairgé.^[4] It was built on the former grounds of the Jesuit College. Construction started in 1818 and completed in 1820. It was expanded in 1857, and a new facade was added in 1930.^[5] The main altar was built in 1888 by Eugène Taché and the windows were created in 1916 by Bernard Leonard.^[2][3]

Initially, the chapel was served by priests from the Notre-Dame Basilica-Cathedral In 1842, the Jesuits returned to Quebec. In 1856, the Jesuits moved into a house near to the chapel. In 1907, the chapel was given over to the Jesuits. In 1949, the chancel was altered and statues and relics of the Canadian Martyrs were installed. The chapel was then dedicated to the Canadian Martyrs.^[2]

In 1992, the Maison Dauphine, a centre for homeless youth, was established next to the chapel.^[2] In the 2010s, this closed and a new charity was established on the ground floor, below the chapel. It is called Carrefour d'Action Interculturelle and works to improve the standard of living of migrants when they arrive in Quebec.